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Texas quarterback enjoying time at Manning camp

Texas quarterback David Ash throws a football at a golf cart during Saturday's 2013 Papa John's Air-it-Out and Iberia Bank Quarterback Challenge, presented by Wheaties at Nicholls State University's John L. Guidry Stadium.

Benjamin Oliver Hicks/Staff

Keyon K. JeffSports Correspondent

Published: Sunday, July 14, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, July 14, 2013 at 12:26 a.m.

When you are the starting quarterback at the University of Texas, the eyes of the Burnt Orange Nation are constantly watching.

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So for Longhorns junior David Ash, being a counselor at the Manning Passing Academy these past four days at Nicholls State University has been a nice calm before the storm of the college football season begins.

"I can't thank the Mannings enough for letting me come," Ash said. "Just getting to be around Peyton and Eli, seeing how they work, how they think, talking football with those guys and being around other great quarterbacks."

While he never attended the Manning Passing Academy as a high school player, Ash went to plenty of passing camps throughout Texas. He thought it was fun being on the other side of the counselor-camper equation, working with the 1,200-plus participating prep athletes.

"These camps are very similar: lots of drills, lots of wide receivers to throw to. You get thousands of fundamental reps," he noted. "I enjoyed being around the kids. It gives you a chance to see if, like, one day you'd want to be a coach."

Just like the young campers, Ash has been picking up subtle nuances of the quarterback position from the Manning brothers, particularly Peyton. What has caught his eye about the Broncos signal caller is way he goes through every drill as a real-game situation.

"He's thinking about every possibility — exactly what you're doing with your feet, what you're doing with your eyes," Ash said. "That's something you hear all your life as a quarterback, but to see someone who does it really well, you understand it so much clearer. It makes you want to make sure you're doing that in the game."

After a few down seasons for Texas football, Ash guided the Longhorns to a 9-4 record and comeback victory over Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl last year.

With 19 starters returning, Texas is expected to challenge Oklahoma and Oklahoma State for the Big XII championship in 2013, something they have not done since the 2009 campaign.

"We took a dip after Colt (McCoy) left. We've been in rebuilding mode, but we've been getting better every year since then," Ash said. "We set high goals for ourselves this year, and I think we can achieve them. That's the attitude I have."

FoxSports college football analyst Eddie George likes Ash's calm, cool demeanor on the field. However, he believes Ash has to become mentally tougher for Texas to flourish.

"David is phenomenal. I think he's very talented, but I want to see out of him this year is how he handles adversity," said the former Heisman Trophy winner and Tennessee Titans running back. "I thought that too many times last year, when he threw an interception he never really let it go and bounce back. I want to see if he's matured to the point where he can look beyond those mistakes and go to the next play."

Ash will be running a more up-tempo scheme this year implemented by co-offensive coordinator and former Longhorns quarterback Major Applewhite. He said they have meshed well as he enters his second season as a starter.

"We have a similar mindset about playing quarterback, and it's always good to have someone who been in your position and knows what it's like," Ash said.

Still, George believes the Longhorns need to develop a tenacity that has been missing the last few years.

"Mack Brown has done nothing but great things there, but they have lacked that championship attitude to challenge each other week in and week out, get that nastiness you need to win a championship," he said. "That Oklahoma game is a big one to see where Texas is headed."

Ash is confident Brown, known for being very player friendly coach, can instill that killer instinct and direct Texas back to championship glory.

"He's a man of integrity. That's why I came to Texas," Ash said, "because I wanted to play and win with someone who cares about his players."

<p>When you are the starting quarterback at the University of Texas, the eyes of the Burnt Orange Nation are constantly watching.</p><p>So for Longhorns junior David Ash, being a counselor at the Manning Passing Academy these past four days at Nicholls State University has been a nice calm before the storm of the college football season begins.</p><p>"I can't thank the Mannings enough for letting me come," Ash said. "Just getting to be around Peyton and Eli, seeing how they work, how they think, talking football with those guys and being around other great quarterbacks."</p><p>While he never attended the Manning Passing Academy as a high school player, Ash went to plenty of passing camps throughout Texas. He thought it was fun being on the other side of the counselor-camper equation, working with the 1,200-plus participating prep athletes.</p><p>"These camps are very similar: lots of drills, lots of wide receivers to throw to. You get thousands of fundamental reps," he noted. "I enjoyed being around the kids. It gives you a chance to see if, like, one day you'd want to be a coach."</p><p>Just like the young campers, Ash has been picking up subtle nuances of the quarterback position from the Manning brothers, particularly Peyton. What has caught his eye about the Broncos signal caller is way he goes through every drill as a real-game situation.</p><p>"He's thinking about every possibility — exactly what you're doing with your feet, what you're doing with your eyes," Ash said. "That's something you hear all your life as a quarterback, but to see someone who does it really well, you understand it so much clearer. It makes you want to make sure you're doing that in the game."</p><p>After a few down seasons for Texas football, Ash guided the Longhorns to a 9-4 record and comeback victory over Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl last year.</p><p>With 19 starters returning, Texas is expected to challenge Oklahoma and Oklahoma State for the Big XII championship in 2013, something they have not done since the 2009 campaign.</p><p>"We took a dip after Colt (McCoy) left. We've been in rebuilding mode, but we've been getting better every year since then," Ash said. "We set high goals for ourselves this year, and I think we can achieve them. That's the attitude I have."</p><p>FoxSports college football analyst Eddie George likes Ash's calm, cool demeanor on the field. However, he believes Ash has to become mentally tougher for Texas to flourish.</p><p>"David is phenomenal. I think he's very talented, but I want to see out of him this year is how he handles adversity," said the former Heisman Trophy winner and Tennessee Titans running back. "I thought that too many times last year, when he threw an interception he never really let it go and bounce back. I want to see if he's matured to the point where he can look beyond those mistakes and go to the next play."</p><p>Ash will be running a more up-tempo scheme this year implemented by co-offensive coordinator and former Longhorns quarterback Major Applewhite. He said they have meshed well as he enters his second season as a starter.</p><p>"We have a similar mindset about playing quarterback, and it's always good to have someone who been in your position and knows what it's like," Ash said.</p><p>Still, George believes the Longhorns need to develop a tenacity that has been missing the last few years. </p><p>"Mack Brown has done nothing but great things there, but they have lacked that championship attitude to challenge each other week in and week out, get that nastiness you need to win a championship," he said. "That Oklahoma game is a big one to see where Texas is headed."</p><p>Ash is confident Brown, known for being very player friendly coach, can instill that killer instinct and direct Texas back to championship glory.</p><p>"He's a man of integrity. That's why I came to Texas," Ash said, "because I wanted to play and win with someone who cares about his players."</p>